(Top) Athletes who participated in
the Malaysia Games in a group
photo with the Minister of
Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin
Dato Hj Hazair (in black) on
arrival at the Brunei
International Airport. (Above)
Md Yazid Yatimi Yusof poses with
his gold medal. Pictures:
BT/Saifulizam

Md Yazid Yatimi Yusof found himself in unfamiliar territory upon his return from the Malaysia Games (Sukma) yesterday.

The most successful Brunei athlete at the June 10-19 tournament in Melaka, Md Yazid was mobbed by fans and well-wishers after he touched down at the Brunei International Airport with the rest of the contingent.

Even his new bride, Pg Anak Mas Sofaizzah Pg Anak Hj Hashim, had a hard time getting through to him. Everyone wanted to shake his hand, everyone wanted to take a photo with him, everyone wanted to talk to him.

Winning the discus throw and claiming third in shot put, his haul helped Brunei finish with a respectable one gold and seven bronze medals.

After a largely fruitless and frustrating past two years, there was no doubt about it; the two-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games representative is the darling of Brunei athletics once again.

Md Yazid competed in Melaka despite an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he suffered to his right knee at the 2008 National Sports Festival. The medals were the first since his injury but he insisted he didn't feel any pain once he stepped onto the grass at the Utama Stadium, Hang Jebat Complex.

"Like I told you already, I didn't think about the injury when I was competing. I didn't feel anything, but when the competition is over, that is when I feel the pain," said Md Yazid when he finally got a few minutes to himself.

"I don't think I will be joining this year's National Sports Festival. I think I will be going to the hospital after this," he smiled.

The 23-year-old recorded his best throw of 42.87m in his fourth attempt of the discus throw event to clinch the title, while in the shot put he threw 13.61m.

"Those aren't my longest throws but they are my season bests so I am happy," said the warden at the Prisons Department.

He wasn't the only one pleased with his performance.

The contingent's chef de mission Hj Rosmadee Hj Md Daud picked Md Yazid and the national cycling team out for praise, saying that he believed they had the potential to continue shining.

"I think we did very well. I am impressed with Md Yazid and the cycling team, especially since this is the first cycling medal we have won in Sukma," he said.

"If they continue training they can do even better and can reach the next level, like the SEA Games for example.

"To those that didn't succeed, don't give up! Work harder, keep training, follow your coaches' instructions and I'm sure you can do well in the future," he added.

The cycling team added bronze medals in the 36km cross country race through Muhammad Rafiuddin Zakaria and the 66km criterium, which was a team event.

The pencak silat team produced the other two bronze medals through Md Azril Mohd Ali and Nurul Amal Maziah Ibrahim Noor who finished third in their respective Class A (45-50kg) categories.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah, as well as top officials from the ministry and the Department of Youth and Sports, were also at the airport to welcome the contingent.